Solar panels

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, the solar panels that we ordered arrived. We had pretty much determined where we wanted to locate them on the roof, and thus where the mounting brackets should be installed on each panel...

So first order of business was to mount the brackets on the panels. We got that accomplished in the morning. (Does this picture look posed to you?)

We had a "business" phone call in mid morning, so took a break for that and lunch, and then headed back out to get the panels onto the roof.

We only have a 6' ladder here in Mesa (we had an 8' one when we put the panels on the roof when we were in Virginia), but we were able to get them onto the roof (one is upside down on top of an existing panel right next to me as I was taking the picture, and the other is way up toward the front of the rig).

It was a little windy when we were putting the panels up on the roof, so it was a little like carrying a sail on the roof, but we managed!

We had decided to put the panels on in such a way that we could, if needed, in the future, put two more on... Carl attaching the first one -- which is closer to the front of the rig.

The first one in place. We think that if we really want to put another panel in front of that one, we would need to change the TV antenna -- it isn't obvious in this picture, but when it is stowed, it lays back along the roof and we don't think there would be quite enough space for another panel to be installed.

Carl attaching the mounting brackets at the far end (back) of the second new panel - which is as far to the back of the rig that we could put it. There is definitely room in front of it for an additional panel if we decide to go that way.

We got them all attached to the roof and started on wiring to determine how many other pieces or parts we need to acquire. We need just a little more wire, and may need a different gauge wire. More to accomplish on a future day!